tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post3996861785800239992..comments2024-01-05T10:10:53.543+00:00Comments on neetswriter: Do you use dialect or other languages in your writing?Anita Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643609708390860371noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-54791329675785272152011-10-30T13:39:33.916+00:002011-10-30T13:39:33.916+00:00I really like your ideas for hinting quite subtly ...I really like your ideas for hinting quite subtly at a speaker's origin. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to reading stories with lots of dialect and have definitely been put off by its extensive use in the past.Clare Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01713781808587139274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-78699712284259169012011-10-28T09:06:53.686+01:002011-10-28T09:06:53.686+01:00Writing characters with dialects can be awkward, b...Writing characters with dialects can be awkward, but I think you've got this right. <br /><br />My step-mum gave up with The Help because of the use of so much dialect and gave the book to me. I haven't had time to read it yet, but I'll bear your words in mind and try to stick with it.Deborah Carr (Debs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03223653554549707595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-9980976066933577812011-10-27T12:35:58.982+01:002011-10-27T12:35:58.982+01:00Hi Anita
I think you have to be very careful with...Hi Anita<br /><br />I think you have to be very careful with dialect, it's very difficult to do well. Little and not very often I think is the safest way - it's all you need to give a flavour of the origins of the speaker.Cara Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972751301677687055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-55147141987124401402011-10-26T18:19:21.485+01:002011-10-26T18:19:21.485+01:00My novel is set in the Highlands of Scotland, so w...My novel is set in the Highlands of Scotland, so while we don't really use dialect, there are a few words which are a little different.<br /><br />I think the way you suggest is by far the best way - keeping a flavour of the language, but keeping it accessible.<br /><br />Interesting post, thank you :)Margaret Morton Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01932292910281160827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-83034558163282970922011-10-26T15:26:58.469+01:002011-10-26T15:26:58.469+01:00Very interesting post, Anita, especially since I&#...Very interesting post, Anita, especially since I'm in Scotland and sometimes have to incorporate a little dialect in occasional stories - and in the tween novel being published in March. But I think your solution of turning the sentence around a little and using only a word or two in dialect makes perfect sense!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-82221734776053340112011-10-26T02:31:43.315+01:002011-10-26T02:31:43.315+01:00Ah, just the word Tuscany makes me long for a nice...Ah, just the word Tuscany makes me long for a nice vacation. I haven't messed w/ dialect much, but you make some interesting points here. So so important for characters to sound authentic.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837881372529525579.post-25740109668945773032011-10-25T16:49:58.594+01:002011-10-25T16:49:58.594+01:00Another interesting blog, Anita. Writing dialect i...Another interesting blog, Anita. Writing dialect is so very hard to do, particularly if it isn't your own. The two books, or rather one book and one writer, that came to mind when I read your blog, were 'Buddha Da' by Anne Donnovan and Roddy Doyle. I can't find my copy of Buddha Da at the mo (ever thus!) but as far as I remember the narrator uses the Glaswegian dialect/accent as well as the dialogue being written in dialect/accent. It took me a short while to get into but was so wonderfully consistent and evocative. Roddy Doyle's dialogue in The Van, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, etc is stunningly vibrant and sends you into an Irish accent just reading it. When done well, as it sounds like in The Help, fiction written using accents/dialect can be amazing. <br /><br />Ruth BrandtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com